wild flag makes riot grrrl punk sound like art-pop.

Listeners who still imagine the harsh, creaky chords of Bikini Kill's "Rebel Girl" when they think of riot grrrl are in for a shock when they hear this band. With swirly, psychedelic guitar riffs, layered vocal harmonies, and - shockingly - a piano, Wild Flag begins where the increasingly artsy Sleater-Kinney left off circa 2003. This shouldn't be that surprising, really; the riot grrrl revival quartet is fronted by Carrie Brownstein, ex-vocalist of SK and the founder of seminal but little known Excuse 17.

Brownstein isn't the only star power in Wild Flag. Riot grrrl fanatics may recognize Mary Timony's vocals and guitar work from past bands Helium and Autoclave, while drummer Janet Weiss is another Sleater-Kinney alum and keyboardist Rebecca Cole was part of the Minders for several years.

Hearing more Patti Smith than "Pussy-Whipped" in the band's music might be disappointing to those who see riot grrrl as being at its best when it is both angry and angsty, but Wild Flag's sophistication is anything but a movement away from the origins of the genre. It's much closer to an evolution. After a ~ten year hiatus, it only makes sense for riot grrrl punks to make a comeback with more eloquence than ever before.

Wild Flag's first physical '7, Future Crimes / Glass Tambourine, was sold exclusively on Record Store Day, but you can buy the MP3s for around two dollars online at Merge Records' site, here.